Express visit to London with dd. What are the Most Dos?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Dd is nine and we are going up to London next week arriving 11am day one and leaving 7pm day two. It's her first trip, and while I have been a couple of times before I've never gone with dc in mind.

I'm thinking natural history museum, she will want to see Buckingham Palace. Any great parks we can have lunch in/with stuff to do? Want to keep fairly central so didn't fancy going out to say Camden Market etc unless it's recommended. She isn't a shopper.

Harrods toy dept has changed recently! I've not seen it, agree much better than Hanley's...but couldn't say for sure now

There's equally lovely play ground by the wheel , walking down south bank.

Nearly opp Westminster

I love the Diana playground but it’s a) a fair bit out of your way b) likely to have queues for entry at peak weekend times c) just a (huge, lovely) playground. The playground by the Eye would be a much more logistically sound place to have a run around. And actually my DC often had just as much fun playing on the stone sculpture outside the National Theatre (something about the shape makes it irresistible) and the Teletubby huts outside the Royal Festival Hall.

If it’s hot then think about packing a towel and swimming costume to play in the fountains at Kings Cross or Somerset House or Royal Festival Hall.

From the brill advice here I’m moving away from the idea of a hop on, hop off bus and towards boat then walking, dlr, London buses if needed. Would this be possible to see the major sites this way or are we better going for hop on hop off to get to more spread out things.
Rough plan
Day 1 arrive- unpack out for dinner and Matilda
Day 2- Science/transport museum and Lion King, park if time/ inclination after lion king matinee
Day 3 - tour major sites including Buckingham palace for changing of guards, Tower of London, river boat ride.
Will fit either cable cars or in at some point today- am I missing an essential out? xx

sounds great

Is she into Hetty Feather? Try the Foundling Museum. It’s near Kings Cross. You can do the Hetty trail and dress up as her.
foundlingmuseum.org.uk
Free for kids.

ALAKAZAM the cable car is not in central London and actually isn't very exciting. Its not really worth the hassle tbh. If you were going to the 02 or Greenwich combine it with that.

That’s two people now who have said to leave the cable car.? Where can I go instead for a boat trip?

You could just take the boat from London Eye to Tower of London. Brisk but fun.
www.thamesclippers.com/route-time-table

Great thanks- will try that then.

I think the science museum is by far the best of the South Ken options--for that age the Wonderlab on the top floor is brilliant (it's an applied science area- things to climb, slide and make). NHM is good for the dinosaurs and the basement area where they can 'do science' with specimens.

Mine love the Tate modern but DD1 is very into art.

@Alakazam8 I’m going to disagree about the riverboats. As a powerchair user I struggled to get on, then part way through my journey they came and said I’d need to get off a stop before the one
I wanted due to access. With a manual and the ability to bump over a lip or be pushed up a steep ramp it would have been better, not great.

Thanks Hat- will check that carefully then before I get on.
What’s the best other way to get around most of the big tourist sites, other than riverboats or tube.
What is there nearby the science museum- any parks or other tourist places at all?

Hi Can I jump on this thread for advice too
We are going 2 Adults 3 Kids staying near Heathrow airport
Myself and dd1 (16) and dd2 (14) are going to Lion King Matinee on a Wed
My ds (11) and dh would be looking something to do near the Lyceum theatre, He loves starwars and lego.
We where planning on doing a day trip on the second day to LEGOLAND Windsor.
land.

Imho opinion Harrods toy department is better than Hamlets. My DD loved the tower of London, the eye, climbing the monument having been studying the great fire at school. Matilda was amazing.

Don't recommend Rainforest Café. Dated and boring and expensive..

Any recommendations for somewhere fun and different to eat that is an ‘experience’ as well as a meal?